By Sakshi Sah
Published Oct 18, 2024

Hindustan Times
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Photo Credit: Pexels

Why Jupiter’s great red spot is an important discovery: Know with 5 pics

Jupiter’s great red spot is a massive storm that has been raging for centuries.

The red spot is one of the iconic features of the planet and a key discovery in our understanding of Jupiter’s atmosphere.

The Great Red Spot is so large that Earth could fit inside it. 

 NASA estimates its diameter to be 1.3 times the size of Earth, making it the biggest storm in the solar system.

NASA scientists believe the great red spot has been active for at least 350 years.

Wind speeds in the great red spot reach up to 430-680 km/h.

The red colour of the great red spot remains a mystery. NASA suggests that chemicals, possibly ammonia and acetylene, may react with ultraviolet light from the Sun, giving the storm its distinctive hue.

The great red spot extends deep into Jupiter’s atmosphere.

NASA’s Juno mission has revealed that the storm stretches over 300 kilometres below the cloud tops, providing insights into Jupiter’s atmospheric dynamics.

NASA’s continuous study of Jupiter’s great red spot has greatly enhanced our understanding of planetary storms, atmospheres, and the forces at play in the gas giant. 

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